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Thi W TripadvisorSouth Valley of Cusco Tour
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OVERVIEW
Trip Overview
There is a side of Cusco that many travelers miss because they go straight to the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu. The South Valley moves at a different rhythm — quieter roads, old villages, stone walls, running water channels, pre-Inca urban planning, and one of the most impressive colonial churches in Peru.
This route brings together three very different chapters of Andean history in one well-paced day: Tipón, where Inca water engineering still works with surprising precision; Pikillaqta, a large Wari settlement built before the Incas expanded through Cusco; and Andahuaylillas, a small town with a church known as the “Sistine Chapel of America” for its murals, gilded decoration, and 17th-century religious art.
With Pullman Machu Picchu, this tour is planned for travelers who want cultural depth without a physically demanding day. It is a strong choice for families, older travelers, and anyone who wants to understand Cusco beyond the usual route.
Itineraries & Prices
Accomodation
Accommodation
Up to 12 people
Group size
15,090 feet (4,600 meters)
Max. altitude
Easy
Difficulty
by Bus
Transport
1B, 1L, 1D
Meals
Trip Details
- Tour name: South Valley of Cusco Tour
- Duration: 1 day, approximately 8 hours
- Departure city: Cusco
- Return city: Cusco
- Pick-up time: Between 8:30 and 9:00 AM
- Approximate return time: Around 3:30 PM
- Main places: Tipón, Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas Church
- Transport: Tourist transport by road
- Walking level: Easy
- Best for: Families, couples, older travelers, cultural travelers, history lovers, and first-time visitors to Cusco
- Meals: Lunch included
- Altitude: Similar to Cusco, around the southern highland valley area
- Main ticket needed: Cusco Tourist Ticket for Tipón and Pikillaqta
- Church ticket: Andahuaylillas Church entrance may be managed separately through the Andean Baroque Route system
- Photography note: Photos and video are not allowed inside Andahuaylillas Church, according to visitor information published for the church.
The official Cusco Tourist Ticket system lists both Tipón and Pikillaqta among the attractions covered by the ticket.
Day by Day Schedule
Day highlight: Today connects three worlds in one route — Inca water engineering, Wari urban planning, and colonial religious art.
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 8:30 and 9:00 AM. From the city, the road heads south through neighborhoods, farming areas, and open valley landscapes. This part of Cusco feels less crowded than the classic tourist corridors, which gives the day a more local tone from the start.
The first main stop is Tipón, one of the finest examples of Inca hydraulic planning near Cusco. Here, terraces, stone channels, fountains, and flowing water show how carefully the Incas worked with natural springs and agricultural land. Tipón is located southeast of Cusco, and its archaeological park is known for an impressive hydraulic system connected to terraces and water channels.
Your guide will explain how the water system works, why the terraces matter, and how the site reflects Inca control of land, agriculture, and sacred water.
Technical details at Tipón
- Walking time: Short to moderate walking around terraces and viewpoints
- Ground type: Stone paths, dirt trails, steps, and uneven sections
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on pace
- Altitude feel: Similar to Cusco; some travelers may still feel light shortness of breath
- Best moments: Water channels, terraces, fountain areas, and guide explanation
- Transport: Tourist vehicle before and after the stop
After Tipón, the route continues toward Pikillaqta, a large archaeological site linked to the Wari culture. This place is very different from Inca sites. The walls, streets, and layout show a more urban and planned style, with long straight lines and a sense of order. Pikillaqta is widely described as a Wari archaeological complex in the South Valley of Cusco, associated with a civilization that came before Inca expansion.
Here, the guide will help you read the site properly. At first glance, Pikillaqta can look dry and silent, but once you understand its scale and age, it becomes one of the most meaningful stops on the route.
Technical details at Pikillaqta
- Walking time: Short walking through open archaeological areas
- Ground type: Dry dirt paths, stone remains, uneven terrain
- Difficulty: Easy
- Climate feel: Open, sunny, dry, and sometimes windy
- Best moments: Wari walls, urban layout, large-scale planning, wide views
- Transport: Tourist vehicle between sites
After Pikillaqta, you will have a typical Cusco lunch. This gives the day a slower break before entering the colonial part of the route.
The final main stop is the Church of San Pedro Apostle of Andahuaylillas, often called the “Sistine Chapel of America.” From the outside, the church looks modest, but the interior is filled with murals, painted ceilings, religious canvases, and baroque decoration. The official Andean Baroque Route lists visitor tickets for Andahuaylillas and related temples, with a South Valley route ticket option and a complete route ticket option.
Inside the church, your guide will explain the religious art, colonial symbolism, and the role these churches played in the region. Photography is not allowed inside, so this is a place to observe carefully rather than rush with a camera.
Technical details at Andahuaylillas
- Walking time: Very short walking around the town and church area
- Ground type: Flat town streets, stone or paved surfaces
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best moments: Murals, baroque decoration, painted ceiling, exterior photos
- Important rule: No photos or videos inside the church
- Transport: Tourist vehicle back to Cusco
After the church, you return to Cusco. Arrival is planned around 3:30 PM, depending on traffic, weather, ticket control, and group pace.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Professional tour guide
- Tourist transport
- Hotel pick-up in Cusco, according to hotel location
- Visit to Tipón Archaeological Site
- Visit to Pikillaqta Archaeological Site
- Visit to Andahuaylillas Church
- Lunch, according to the original tour plan
- Entrance tickets to the places specified as included in the service
- Return transport to Cusco
- Basic assistance before the tour
What’s Not Included
- Cusco Tourist Ticket, unless clearly specified in your reservation
- Andahuaylillas Church entrance, unless clearly specified in your reservation
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Drinks or extra snacks
- Travel insurance
- Extra stops not listed in the itinerary
- Special private lunch upgrade
- Purchases, donations, or offerings at the church
More Tour Information
- See Tipón’s working water channels — clear water still moves through stone canals, fountains, and terraces built with remarkable control.
- Understand Inca engineering through real movement — at Tipón, water is not just part of the landscape; it shows how the Incas managed flow, slope, pressure, and agricultural terraces.
- Walk through Pikillaqta, a pre-Inca Wari city — long walls, organized streets, open spaces, and remains of multi-level structures show how advanced the Wari culture was before the rise of the Incas.
- Stand inside Andahuaylillas Church — a quiet colonial temple filled with murals, painted ceilings, gold-leaf decoration, canvases, and religious symbols from the 17th century.
- Travel through a calmer part of Cusco — the South Valley receives fewer visitors than the main Sacred Valley route, which often makes the day feel more relaxed.
- A full cultural route with easy walking — this tour combines archaeology, engineering, architecture, religion, and rural landscapes without long hikes.
- Ideal for thoughtful travelers — if you like places with layers of history rather than only quick viewpoints, this route gives you a lot to take in.
- Typical Cusco lunch included — the original tour includes lunch, making the day easier and more comfortable for travelers who prefer a complete plan.
Hotel Pick-Up
Pick-up is scheduled between 8:30 and 9:00 AM from your hotel in Cusco. Some streets in the historic center are narrow or restricted for vehicles, so we may coordinate a nearby meeting point if direct access is not possible.
Please send your hotel name and address before the tour date so our operations team can organize the route correctly.
Luggage Storage
This is a one-day tour, so travelers should bring only a small daypack. Large luggage is not needed during the route.
If you need to store luggage, coordinate with your hotel or with our team before departure. Shared transport has limited space, and large suitcases cannot always be accepted.
Payment Conditions
A reservation payment may be required to confirm your space. This allows us to organize transport, guide assignment, restaurant coordination, and daily logistics.
Any remaining balance must be paid before departure or according to the terms given by the reservations team. Local entrance tickets may require cash payment in soles because some ticket offices and churches manage payments directly.
Availability
This tour does not include Machu Picchu, so availability is usually easier than tours that require Machu Picchu entry tickets or Inca Trail permits.
It is often possible to reserve this tour with at least 24 hours of notice, but last-minute bookings depend on guide availability, transport space, hotel location, lunch coordination, and local conditions.
For private service, booking earlier is recommended, especially for families, groups, travelers with mobility needs, or those requesting a custom schedule.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Light jacket or windbreaker
- Rain poncho during rainy season
- Sun hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Small daypack
- Reusable water bottle
- Passport or valid ID
- Student card, if applicable
- Personal medication
- Motion sickness medication, if needed
- Camera or phone with enough battery
- Cash in Peruvian soles
- Personal snacks
- Any medical support item you may need
If you have special requirements such as mobility aids, professional filming equipment, service animals, dietary restrictions, medical devices, or personal assistance needs, please inform our reservations team in advance.
Cusco Tourist Ticket for Tipón and Pikillaqta
Tipón and Pikillaqta are included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket system. COSITUC, the official ticket organization, lists both sites among the places covered by the ticket.
The original tour information lists the following ticket references:
- General Cusco Tourist Ticket: S/130 for foreign travelers, S/70 for national travelers
- Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket: S/70 for foreign travelers, S/40 for national travelers
Ticket prices and conditions should be confirmed close to the travel date because public rates can change.
Andahuaylillas Church Ticket
Andahuaylillas Church is part of the Andean Baroque Route. The official route information lists ticket options for the South Valley route and the complete route, with different prices for general visitors, students, and national tourists.
Photography and video inside the church are prohibited or restricted to protect the artwork.
Transportation Included
The tour includes tourist transport from Cusco to Tipón, then Pikillaqta, then Andahuaylillas, and back to Cusco.
The route includes city roads, paved highway sections, rural access roads, curves, and open valley landscapes. Travelers sensitive to motion should bring personal medication.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included because this is a one-day tour from Cusco. Travelers usually take this tour while staying in Cusco before or after other trips.
Travel Restrictions
Strikes and Demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may interrupt some tours. Roads can be blocked, transport may be delayed, and access to certain areas may change without much notice.
Under these circumstances, the tour may be modified, delayed, rescheduled, or canceled. If this happens, our operations department will coordinate directly with you. Your safety comes first, and all decisions will be made with that priority.
Lost Objects
Please pay attention to your belongings during the tour. Check your seat before leaving the vehicle and keep your phone, passport, wallet, and camera with you.
You are responsible for your personal items during the tour.
Health and Mobility
This tour is easy, but it still takes place at high altitude. Some travelers may feel mild headache, tiredness, dry throat, or shortness of breath.
The walking sections are short, but there may be stone paths, steps, dirt trails, and uneven ground. Travelers with mobility concerns should request private service and inform the reservations team before booking.
Older travelers, pregnant travelers, or people with heart, respiratory, or serious medical conditions should ask their doctor before traveling to high-altitude areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
It is an entrance ticket that gives access to several archaeological sites and attractions in Cusco and the surrounding valleys, including Tipón and Pikillaqta. These sites are listed by COSITUC as part of the official tourist ticket network.
Is the tour good for children and older adults?
Yes. The walking is short and the route is not physically demanding. Private service is recommended if your group needs a slower pace or extra assistance.
Can I take photos inside Andahuaylillas Church?
No. Photos and videos are not allowed inside the church to help preserve the artwork. You can take photos outside the church and around the town.
Is lunch included?
Yes, the original tour plan includes lunch with typical Cusco food. Drinks or special menu upgrades may not be included unless your reservation says so.
Do I need to be acclimated?
The tour takes place at altitudes similar to Cusco. Most travelers can do it without extra acclimatization, but altitude can still affect some people. Drink water, avoid heavy alcohol the night before, and move calmly.
What time does the tour finish?
The tour usually returns to Cusco around 3:30 PM, depending on traffic, ticket control, weather, restaurant timing, and group pace.
Require More Information
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Pick a month, then choose your start date. Return date is calculated using the tour duration.
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